GS Paper III

News Excerpt:

The Codex Alimentarious Commission (CAC) has praised India’s Standards on Millets and accepted its proposal to develop Global Standards for Millets during its 46th session held in Rome, Italy.

• Also, India has been unanimously elected to represent the Asian region in the Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).

About India’s proposal for International Group Standards for Millets:

• India developed a comprehensive group standard for 15 types of millets, establishing 8 quality indicators.
• The existing Codex standards for Sorghum and Pearl Millet will also be reviewed.
• India put forward Global Standards, particularly for Finger millet, Barnyard millet, Kodo millet, Proso millet, and Little millet similar to group standards for pulses.
• These FSSAI group standards on millets, specifying maximum limits for moisture content, uric acid content, extraneous matter, other edible grains, defects, weevilled grains, and immature and shriveled grains for 15 types of millets, will serve as an important foundation for the development of global standards. 
• Important standards proposed by India include Standards for Okra, BWG Pepper, Aubergines, Dried and Dehydrated Garlic, Dried or Dehydrated Chilli Pepper and Paprika, Fresh Dates, Mango Chutney, Chili Sauce, Ware Potatoes, and labeling requirements for non-retail containers.

About Codex Alimentarious Commission (CAC):

• It is an international food safety and quality standard-setting body created by WHO and FAO of the United Nations with 188 member countries.
• Membership of the Commission is open to all Member Nations and Associate Members of FAO and WHO interested in international food standards.
• The Commission meets in regular sessions once a year, alternating between Geneva and Rome.
• The Commission’s program of work is funded through the regular budgets of WHO and FAO, with all work subject to the approval of the two governing bodies of the parent organizations. 
• It works in the six official languages of the UN (i.e. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish).
• India has been a member of the CAC since 1964.

About Millets:

• Indian millets are a group of nutritiously rich, drought tolerant, and mostly grown in India’s arid and semi-arid regions. 
• They are small-seeded grasses belonging to the botanical family Poaceae.
• They have minimal requirements for water, fertilizers, and pesticides.
• Millets have a low Glycaemic Index (GI) and are also associated with the prevention of diabetes.    
• They are good sources of minerals like iron, zinc, and calcium.
• Millet cultivation helps to reduce the carbon footprint.
• Millets have gained popularity in the West because they are gluten-free and boast high protein, fiber, and antioxidant content.

Government initiatives to promote millet:

• Millet International Initiative for Research and Awareness (MIIRA): 
  • It aims to connect millet research organizations across the world while also supporting research on these crops.
• Millets And Other Ancient Grains International Research Initiative (MAHARISHI):
  • This initiative is aimed to bolster research and awareness concerning agro-biodiversity, food security, and nutrition, aligning with the International Year of Millets 2023 (IYoM 2023) program initiated by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
• Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion (INSIMP):
  • It was launched in 2011-12 to demonstrate improved production and post-harvest technologies in an integrated manner.
• Union Finance Minister termed millets as 'Sri Anna' in her budget speech.
• The year 2023 has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of the Millet, following a proposal by India.

Prelims PYQ

Q. Consider the following crops of India: (UPSC 2012)

1) Groundnut

2) Sesamum

3) Pearl millet

Which of the above is/are predominantly rain-fed crop/crops?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Q. With reference to ‘Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion’’, which of the following statements is/are correct?   (UPSC 2016)

1. This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and postharvest technologies, and to demonstrate value addition techniques, in an integrated manner, with cluster approach.
2. Poor, small marginal and tribal farmers have larger stake in this scheme.
3. An important objective of the scheme is to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation by offering them free kits of critical inputs of nutrients and micro irrigation equipment.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 2 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3